DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0117; Product Identifier 2017-NM-104-AD; Amendment
39-19298; AD 2018-11-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-01-07,
which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON airplanes;
Model FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model MYSTERE-
FALCON 200 airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-
F5 airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. AD 2017-01-07
required a functional test or check of the main entry door closure and
warning system, and applicable door closing inspections, adjustments,
operational tests, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD
requires repetitive door closing inspections, adjustments, operational
tests, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a
report indicating that during approach for landing, the main entry door
detached from an airplane. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 9, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of February 10,
2017 (82 FR 1595, January 6, 2017).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation, Teterboro Airport, P.O. Box
2000, South Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone: 201-440-6700; internet:
http://www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 2200 South 216th
St., Des Moines, WA. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 206-231-3195. It is also available on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2018-0117.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2018-
0117; or in person at the Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket
contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for the Docket Office (telephone: 800-
647-5527) is Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards Branch, FAA, 2200 South
216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax: 206-231-3226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2017-01-07, Amendment 39-18774 (82 FR 1595,
January 6, 2017) (``AD 2017-01-07''). AD 2017-01-07 applied to all
Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON airplanes; Model FAN JET FALCON
SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes;
Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes; and
Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on March 1, 2018 (83 FR 8807). The NPRM was prompted by a
report indicating that during approach for landing, the main entry door
detached from the airplane. The NPRM proposed to continue to require a
functional test or check of the main entry door closure and warning
system, and applicable door closing inspections, adjustments,
operational tests, and corrective actions if necessary. The NPRM also
proposed to require repetitive door closing inspections, adjustments,
operational tests, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing
this AD to detect and correct defective crew/passenger doors. Such a
condition could result in the in-flight opening or detachment of the
crew/passenger door, which could result in loss of control of the
airplane and injury to persons on the ground.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2017-0123, dated July 20, 2017 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Dassault Aviation Model FAN JET FALCON
airplanes; Model FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes;
Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5,
20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. The
MCAI states:

During approach for landing, at an altitude of 7,000 feet, a
MF20-D5 lost the main entry door (MED). The flight crew maintained
control of the aeroplane to land uneventfully. The results of the
preliminary technical investigations concluded that the cause of
this event could be either a broken cable, or an unlocked safety
catch, associated with one or two deficient micro switches.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to in-
flight opening and/or detachment of the MED, possibly resulting in
loss of control of the aeroplane, and/or injury to persons on the
ground.
To address this potential unsafe condition, Dassault issued
Service Bulletin (SB) F20-789, SB F200-133 and SB MF50-531,
providing instructions for inspection/adjustment, and an operational
test of the MED closure. Consequently, EASA issued AD 2015-0007
[which corresponds to FAA AD 2017-01-07] to require a one-time
accomplishment of a functional test/check of the MED closure/warning
system. It also required [a general visual] inspection and
operational test of the MED [including the control and latching
mechanisms] and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable
corrective action(s).
Since that [EASA] AD was issued, EASA determined that the
inspection and operational test of the MED must be repeated to
ensure continued safety.
For the reasons described above, this [EASA] AD retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2015-0007, which is superseded, and
additionally requires repetitive inspections and operational tests
of the MED.

Corrective actions include adjusting the telescopic rod bolts on
the door until the clearance between the lower part of the door and the
fuselage is within the specified tolerances. The corrective actions for
the control and latching mechanisms include adjusting components and
replacing damaged components (including pull latches, microswitches,
pulleys, and cables). Signs of damage include cracks, corrosion, wear,
and distortion. You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the
internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2018-0117.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and
the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Dassault Aviation has issued the following service information.
Dassault Service Bulletin F20-789, also referred to as
789, dated December 9, 2014.
Dassault Service Bulletin F50-531, also referred to as
531, dated December 9, 2014.
Dassault Service Bulletin F200-133, also referred to as
133, dated December 9, 2014.
This service information describes procedures for inspections,
adjustments, and operational tests of certain doors and corrective
actions. These documents are distinct since they apply to different
airplane models. This service information is reasonably available
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 392 airplanes of U.S. registry. We
estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

We have received no definitive data that would enable us to provide
cost estimates for the on-condition actions specified in this AD.

Authority for This Rulemaking

Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs,
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: ``General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this
rulemaking action.
This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the
authority to issue ADs applicable to transport category airplanes to
the Director of the System Oversight Division.

Regulatory Findings

We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska; and
4. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-01-07, Amendment 39-18774 (82 FR 1595, January 6, 2017), and
adding the following new AD: